WTO estimates that 100 million Chinese tourists will travel outside China by 2020; 4.6 million Chinese tourists are expected to visit Europe in 2012.

A recent Roland Berger survey confirms that outbound Chinese tourism is going to boom in Europe in the years to come. The figures for 2012 are already impressive. They expect 18 million Chinese tourists will travel abroad, of which, 4.6 million will visit Europe, with France alone accounting for 1.5 million travelers.

In 2010, 85% of the 2.3 million Chinese outbound tourists in Europe traveled to 4 countries (France, Italy, Germany and the UK); the vast majority of the packages to Europe include France. For the Chinese, Europe’s attractiveness is a result of three factors: the presence of outstanding landscapes and natural sites, the overall hospitality and atmosphere and the variety of cities and places to visit.

Europe will need to address some issues such as the language barrier and the complicated visa process to countries like France.

Chinese tourists came out tops again as the world’s biggest tax free shoppers in 2011 who chalked up more than US$2.3 billion in tax free shopping transactions. Each Chinese shopper’s tax-free average spend amounted to more than US$1,041 per person, which is much higher than their Japanese US$681 and Russian (US$461) counterparts.

Australia is the latest country trying to attract well-heeled Chinese travellers, and has launched a new $250 million dollar advertising campaign including new broadcast, print and digital advertising showing key attractions such as the Bungle Bungles, Lizard Island and Uluru.